(19)
(11) EP 0 569 089 A1

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(43) Date of publication:
10.11.1993 Bulletin 1993/45

(21) Application number: 93201252.9

(22) Date of filing: 03.05.1993
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)5B65D 5/42, B65D 75/56
(84) Designated Contracting States:
DE FR GB IT NL

(30) Priority: 06.05.1992 NL 9200805

(71) Applicant: Aarts, Mathieu
NL-6214 SX Maastricht (NL)

(72) Inventor:
  • Aarts, Mathieu
    NL-6214 SX Maastricht (NL)

(74) Representative: Vollebregt, Cornelis Jacobus, Ir. 
Algemeen Octrooibureau World Trade Center P.O. Box 645
5600 AP Eindhoven
5600 AP Eindhoven (NL)


(56) References cited: : 
   
       


    (54) Folded box with suspension means


    (57) The invention relates to a storage box folded from a plane sheet, said storage box being provided with a bottom (12,13) and with upright walls. Aligned passages are provided near the upper edges of two opposite walls (33). A part of the plane sheet folded to a U shape joins the upper edge of a wall, said part folded to a U shape comprising two legs (27,31), which abut against the outer sides of the wall joined by the part folded to a U shape and a wall located opposite thereto, respectively. The connecting piece (29) interconnecting the two legs of the part folded to a U shape extends transversely between the two latter walls and is located below said passages.




    Description


    [0001] The invention relates to a storage box folded from a plane sheet, said storage box being provided with a bottom and with upright walls.

    [0002] The object of the invention is to obtain a storage box of the above kind, in which a number of objects can be packed and which can be suspended from a rack or the like.

    [0003] At present it is common practice to pack single objects or small numbers of objects in a so-called blister packaging, whereby a number of these packagings can be suspended from a rack or the like, for which purpose each packaging is provided with at least one passage, through which a suspension pin or the like, which is secured to the rack, can be passed. The use of such blister packagings is environment-unfriendly and that is why the invention aims at obtaining a storage box, which can for example be made of cardboard or the like, in which the products can be packed in a simple and efficient manner and which can also be suspended from the usual racks or the like.

    [0004] According to the invention this can be achieved in that aligned passages are provided near the upper edges of two opposite walls, whilst folded parts of the plane sheet abut against the inner sides of the upper ends of two opposite walls and further extend transversely between the two latter walls and under the passages.

    [0005] When using such a box, which can be folded from a material suitable for recycling, such as cardboard, the material to be packed can be stored in an efficient manner in the space bounded by the bottom, the side walls and the connecting piece interconnecting the legs of the part folded to a U shape, whilst a pin secured to a rack or the like, which functions to support the storage box, can be readily passed through the passages formed in two opposite side walls and the space located between said passages and above the connecting piece interconnecting the two legs of the part folded to a U shape.

    [0006] The invention will be explained in more detail hereafter with reference to a possible embodiment of the construction according to the invention illustrated in the accompanying Figures.

    [0007] Figure 1 is a plan view of plane sheet, from which a storage box according to the invention can be folded.

    [0008] Figure 2 is a diagrammatic, perspective view of a part of a box which is folded from the plane sheet shown in Figure 1.

    [0009] The plane sheet shown in Figure 1 comprises a rectangular part 1 intended for forming a folded upright wall, in particular a front wall, of a box folded from said plane sheet.

    [0010] Rectangular parts 4 and 5 join the left-hand and right-hand sides of the part 1 via folding lines 2 and 3 respectively, said parts being intended for forming upright walls of the box, in particular side walls, which will connect the front walls of the box to a rectangular part 6 of the plane sheet forming the rear wall of the box, said part 6 joining the part 4 via a folding line 7 extending parallel to the folding line 2.

    [0011] A lip-shaped part 9 joins the side of the part 6 remote from the part 4 via a folding line 8 extending parallel to the folding line 7, said part 9 being attached to the inner side of the side wall 5 when folding the box from the plane sheet.

    [0012] Parts 12 and 13 join the bottom edges of the parts 1 and 6 respectively via folding lines 10 and 11 respectively.

    [0013] Parts 16 and 17 join the parts 4 and 5 respectively, via folding lines 14 and 15 respectively being in line with the folding lines 10 and 11. When the box is being folded from the plane sheet said parts 12, 13, 16 and 17 will form the bottom of the box in a manner known per se.

    [0014] A rectangular part 19 joins the upper edge of the part 1, via a folding line 18 extending parallel to the folding line 10. A projecting lip 21 joins the side of the part 19 remote from the part 1, via a folding line 20 extending parallel to the folding line 18.

    [0015] Lips 24 and 25 join the upper ends of the parts 4 and 5 respectively via folding lines 22 and 23 respectively, which are in line with the folding line 18.

    [0016] A rectangular part 27 joins the upper edge of the part 6 of the plane sheet, via a folding line 26 aligned with the folding lines 18, 22 and 23. A rectangular part 29 joins the side of the part 27 remote from the part 6, via a folding line 28 extending parallel to the folding line 26.

    [0017] A rectangular part 31 joins the side of the part 29 remote from the part 27, via a folding line 30.
    A rectangular recess is formed in the part 1 so as to form a window, which is closed by a transparent sheet 32 adhered to the part 1.

    [0018] Near the centre of the part 1 a more or less triangular recess 33 is formed in the sheet 1, at some distance from the upper edge or folding line 18. A similar recess 34 is formed in the part 6.
    A recess 35 is formed in the lip 21 directly above the recess 33, seen in Figure 1, said recess 35 as regards shape corresponding with the recess 33, being turned through 180° with respect to the recess 33, however.

    [0019] In a similar manner a recess 36 is formed in the part 27 of the plane sheet, directly above the recess 34. Furthermore a correspondingly shaped recess 37 is formed in the part 31 of the plane sheet, directly above the recesses 34 and 36, seen in Figure 1, the orientation of said recess corresponding with that of the recess 34.
    As appears from Figure 2, when the storage box is being formed from the plane sheet in the usual manner the parts 1 and 6 forming the front wall and the rear wall respectively of the box will come to lie some distance apart, extending parallel to each other, whereby the parts 4 and 5 will form further upright walls interconnecting the front wall 1 and the rear wall 6. The overlapping parts 12 and 13, together with the parts 16 and 17 connected thereto, will form the bottom of the storage box in a usual manner.

    [0020] The parts 27, 29 and 31 are folded along the folding lines 26, 28, 30 so as to form a U-shaped part shown in Figure 2, whereby the part 27 of the plane sheet forming one leg of said U-shaped part abuts against the inner side of the rear wall 6, whilst the other leg of said U-shaped part, formed by part 31 of the plane sheet, abuts against the inner side of the front wall 1. The connecting piece 29 of the U-shaped part, which interconnects the two legs 27 and 31, is located some distance below the upper edges of the front wall 1 and the rear wall 6 respectively of the storage box, as will be apparent from Figure 2. Objects to be packed in the storage box (a single object is also conceivable, of course) can be placed on the bottom 12, 13 of the storage box, after which the U-shaped part of the storage box consisting of the parts 27, 29, 31 of the plane sheet can be moved to the position shown in figure 2, so that the objects that have been placed in the storage box are confined between the bottom 12, 13 of the box, the upright walls 1, 4, 5 and 6 and the connecting piece 29 interconnecting the two legs 27 and 31 of the part folded to a U shape.

    [0021] Then the storage box can be closed at the upper side by folding the lips 24 and 25 and the part 19 of the plane sheet forming a cover of the box about the folding line 18, whilst the lip 21 will thereby be folded about the folding line 20 with respect to the cover 19 and will come to abut the leg 27 of the above-mentioned part folded to a U shape, as shown in Figure 2. It will be apparent that in the storage box thus formed, which is shown in Figure 2, the various recesses 33, 34, 35, 36 and 37 formed in the plane sheet will be in line, so that a pin-shaped means, which is secured to suspension racks or the like in a usual manner, can be passed through said openings in order to suspend the storage box from a rack or the like. Since these openings are located above the part 29, below which the objects introduced into the box are confined, such passing of a pin-shaped means through the openings 33-37 can take place without impediment.

    [0022] Of course additions and/or variations to the above-described embodiments illustrated in the Figures are conceivable. Thus the storage box may have any shape that is desired.

    [0023] It is also possible to provide a larger recess than the recess 37 in the part 31, said larger recess possibly being open at the boundary edge of the part 31 remote from the folding line 30.

    [0024] A further possibility is to make the lip 21 narrower than shown in Figure 1, so that the recess 35 may be left out and the bottom edge of the lip 21 is located above the recesses in the folded-up position of the box as shown in Figure 2.

    [0025] Furthermore an embodiment will be conceivable wherein the recesses are not formed in the opposite walls of the box, against which the legs 27 and 31 of the U-shaped part abut, but in the two other side walls extending transversely thereto.

    [0026] Also the plane sheet from which the box is folded may be formed in different manners, of course. Thus an embodiment is conceivable wherein the parts forming the front wall and the rear wall of the box are interconnected by a part forming the bottom, whilst the side walls may thereby be formed by overlapping parts joining the upright edges of the front wall and the rear wall.


    Claims

    1. A storage box folded from a plane sheet, said storage box being provided with a bottom and with upright walls, characterized in that aligned passages are provided near the upper edges of two opposite walls, whilst folded parts of the plane sheet abut against the inner sides of the upper ends of two opposite walls and further extend transversely between the two latter walls and under the passages.
     
    2. A storage box according to claim 1, characterized in that folded parts of the plane sheet abutting against the inner sides of the walls abut against the walls provided with passages, whilst recesses, being in line with said passages, are formed in said folded parts near said passages.
     
    3. A storage box according to claim 2, characterized in that the shape of the recesses formed in the parts folded against the inner sides of the walls at least substantially corresponds with that of the passages formed in the walls of the storage box.
     
    4. A storage box according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said box is provided with a cover, which closes the space in the box bounded by the folded parts of the plane sheet at the upper side.
     
    5. A storage box according to claim 4, characterized in that said cover is provided with a lip, which abuts the inner side of a part folded against the inner side of a wall.
     
    6. A storage box according to claim 5, characterized in that said lip extends to below said passages, and that a recess being in line with said passages is formed in said lip.
     
    7. A storage box according to claim 6, characterized in that the shape of said recess formed in said lip at least substantially corresponds with that of a passage.
     
    8. A storage box according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that one of the folded parts joins the upper edge of a wall and is connected, by means of a part extending transversely between the walls, to the folded part abutting against the other wall.
     
    9. A plane sheet obviously intended for manufacturing a storage box according to any one of the preceding claims.
     




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